The Adventure of the Priory School

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was born of Irish parentage in Scotland. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but he also had a passion for storytelling. His first book introduced that prototype of the modern detective in fiction, Sherlock Holmes. Despite the immense popularity Holmes gained throughout the world, Doyle was not overly fond of the character and preferred to write other stories. Eventually popular demand won out and he continued to satisfy readers with the adventures of the legendary sleuth. He also wrote historical romances and made two essays into pseudoscientific fantasy: The Lost World and The Poison Belt.

Edward Hardwicke (1932–2011) was an English actor who primarily played supporting roles on television, in films, and on stage, where he was classically trained. He is well known for the role of Dr. Watson in the Grenada television series The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett. Hardwicke also appeared in a number of films, such as Shadowlands alongside Anthony Hopkins, Elizabeth, and the all-star romantic comedy Love Actually.